Wednesday, April 4, 2018

DefExpo 2018 to promote TN as defence hub for nation



C SHIVAKUMAR @ CHENNAI:

Tamil Nadu government is planning to tap large-scale global investment by hosting DefExpo 2018, which is being held in the southern India for the first time, and promote the state as defence hub, according to top state government officials and industry chamber.

It is learnt that the state is planning to come out with a Aerospace and Defence policy in the wake of Defence Minister Nirmala Seetharaman announcing the defence corridor for the state which is estimated to enhance the skill-sets of medium small and micro enterprises and attract Rs 1.5 lakh crore fresh investments.

“We have formed committees including aviation and defence to assist the aerospace and defence related manufacturers in the state in connecting with global players,” said a government official.

Vinod Surana, the co-chairman of Assocham and Southern Region Development Council, told Express that he has urged the state to look beyond aerospace and focus on maritime, terrestrial and defence manufacturing.

An industries department official said that the state is looking beyond aerospace and want to create clusters. “We already have tank manufacturing facility in Ambattur, Larsen and Toubro is manufacturing navy vessels and we have amamment factories in Tamil Nadu. We are keenly focusing on tapping all three defence manufacturing sectors to ensure more jobs for the students,” he said.

Interestingly, DefExpo 2018 is to brand India as a defence exporter of several defence systems and components for all three Services - Army, Navy and Air Force. However, the focus is now more on the state becoming a defence hub with the setting up of defence corridor.

According to Assocham, the proposed defence corridor in the state will create four lakh high paying jobs. Surana says that Tamil Nadu has an edge over other states for developing the defence corridor. “The state is established leader in automobile component, design, electronics, engineering, information technology and textiles. It also has largest concentration of top educational institutions,” said Surana.

Interestingly, the need to have a defence corridor could also be looked on Tamil Nadu being strategically placed. “It is beyond the range of most Chinese and Pakistan missiles and aircraft and its vask coastline is suitable to control vital shipping routes,” says Surana.

ASSOCHAM has pitched for Tamil Nadu as it has vibrant start-up ecosystem in Chennai, Coimbatore and Hosur region. Interestingly, a defence manufacturing committee of Assocham has suggested metallurgical testing centres and design testing and validation centres near Avadi and a large scale data analytics centre.

It is learnt that there are 25-30 manufacturing units from Ambattur Industrial Estate serving military establishments as vendors for prototype manufacturing. A detailed study of vendor base will help in identifying areas in which manufacturing assistance is currently lacking.

Given the focus on highlighting the state as an emerging defence production hub, DefExpo 2018 has earmarked at least half the space for domestic exhibitors. This will make DefExpo 2018 the biggest ever opportunity to show their capabilities and integrate with the global supply chain of defence manufacturing, says Surana, who wants to woo the MSMEs from as far as Tirunelveli in down south to showcase their products.

Why TN to be defence hub of nation:

1.  The state is leader in automobiles, component design, electronics, engineering, information technology, textiles etc

2.  It has highest concentration of top educational institutions in India

3.  It is strategically located and beyond the range of Chinese and Pakistani missiles

4.  Hosur home to private airfield and its proximity to Aviation Military Industrial Complex makes it affordable location for Aviation Military Industry Complex.

5.   The setting up of Defence Industry Corridor will attract Rs 1.5 lakh crore investment

6.  It will generate four lakh high paying jobs

(source: Assocham)

Chance for Chennaites to visit Indian Navy ships

CHENNAI:
Chennaites will have a chance to experience the glory of five Indian Navy vessels which will dock at Chennai harbor on the sidelines of Defexpo India on April 12 and 13. The five vessels include INS Sahyadri, a Shivalik-class stealth multi-role frigate built for the Indian Navy, INS Kamorta, the first of four anti-submarine Kamorta-class stealth corvettes, INS Airawat, he third Shardul-class amphibious warfare vessel, INS Sumedha, the third Saryu class patrol vessel of the Indian Navy, and INS Shakti, a Deepak-class fleet tanker.

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